Toshiba to Cease Mobile Phone Production in Japan
May 21, 2009
Japan's Toshiba plans to cease mobile phone production
at its domestic manufacturing facility Hino Operations and to outsource
production to overseas EMS (Electronics Manufacturing Services) providers starting
from October 2009, Nikkei reported on May 20. Hino Operations, the output of which
is mainly supplied to the domestic market, is expected to remain as a global center
for product control, development, design, and introduction, as well as repair
and service operations. Hino Operations' mobile phone manufacturing personnel
of around 200 will be allotted to other departments within Toshiba Group. At
the same time, in addition to outsourcing parts of its mobile phone output to
overseas EMS providers, Toshiba will continue to focus on manufacturing high-end
mobile phones at Toshiba Information Equipment in Hangzhou, China.